Dlala Studios Combines Hades and Doom for the Standout Action Game Murals
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Polygon previewed Murals at Gamescom 2026, showcasing how Dlala Studios is blending isometric action, Doom-inspired enemy design, and permanent power upgrades into a fresh narrative adventure.
As Polygon recently reported from Gamescom 2026, the automatic association between isometric camera angles and roguelike mechanics is finally getting a well deserved shake-up. Dlala Studios, the developer behind Disney Illusion Island and the 2020 Battletoads revival, used Opening Night Live to reveal its next major project titled Murals. Players step into the shoes of a stoic, silent protagonist accompanied by a talkative animated slice of bread named Loaf, navigating through a painterly world where traditional folklore gets a dark and twisted makeover.
While the isometric perspective might trick you into expecting a standard run-based game, studio leadership has made it clear that Murals is a structured, narrative-forward action experience rather than a roguelike. The combat pacing draws clear inspiration from Hades with its frantic dash mechanics and room-clearing arena lockdowns, but the underlying design philosophy actually borrows heavily from Doom 2016. Instead of forcing players to memorize complex individual move sets, the challenge stems from managing dangerous enemy combinations that keep you constantly moving.
Progression leans into fun and power rather than rigid balancing, letting players equip up to nine modifiers called Eeries that permanently alter stats, add elemental damage, or completely overhaul basic attacks. Building up killstreaks rewards bonus experience while fueling a massive area-of-effect limit break known as Canvas Clear. With Dlala actively embracing over-powered builds so players can feel unstoppable in single-player, Murals is shaping up to be a refreshing single-player journey when it launches for Windows PC in 2027.
Tags: Action Games, Indie Games, Gamescom 2026, PC Gaming
Original article: Polygon